Ski binding



S. GERBER Feb. 15, 1938.

SKI BINDING Filed June 20 VIENTOR f ,6551

l A TTORNE yg Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNETED TATES narrar orgies sin BINDING Sidney Gerber, seattle, wasn. 'appartenga time zo, 193e, serai No. sassi f1 Claims. (el. zsm-11.35) v This invention relates to skis and has reference more particularly to an improved form of ski binding; it being the principal object of this invention to provide a novel form of toe clamp 5 that is easily and readily adjustable while the ski is applied and which comprises a pair of opposedly acting clamp plates adapted to be adjusted to diiierent positions relative to each other and to be secured at any position of adiiistment by the tightening of a single screw.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ski binding of the above stated character wherein the toe clamp plates are Vadjustably fixed -on the ski in a manner to'accommodate shoes of diierent size, width, length, etc.,l and are held in adjustment by the securing of a wedge bar against a locking'bar which interlocks with the clamp plates.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provision of an improved form of binding wherein upstanding, opposedly facing shoe clamp flanges are integral with flat attaching plates that flatly overlie a base plate that is permanently iixed to the ski runner and wherein the clamp attaching plates are toothed or serrated along their rear and front edges to adjustably interlock, respectively, with a toothed or serrated bar that is permanently xed to the base plate and with a toothed or serrated locking bar inovably attached t0 the base plate; the said locking bar being held in place by the setting of a wedge bar thereagainst and this wedge bar, in turn, is held in place bya single clamp screw that is threaded into the base plate in a position that is readily accessible even when the ski 'is applied. Y

Other objects of they invention reside in the details of construction and in: the combination of parts and in their mode of operation, as will 40 hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereiny Fig. l is a side View of a ski binding embodying the present invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a top, or plan View of the same, with a greater part of thecover plate broken away 5I) for the purpose of better illustrating the construction' of the clamp plates.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, on the line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a cross sectional View of one of the toe clamp plates, as on the line ll-4 in Fig. 2.

upstanding flange Referring more in detail to the drawingi designates a portion of theski runner having a slightly raised flat la, upon which the present ski binding is attached. In the present preferred form of construction, this binding com- 5 prises a base plate @substantially the width of the runner, and permanently secured at its forward and rearward ends by means of wood screws or the like, as designated at 3 and 4.'

Mounted upon the plate 2 are the opposed `10 shoe clamp plates. These are disposed side by side, and have their base flanges, designated at t and respectively, flatly overlying the base plate 2. Each of the flanges 5 and 5a has an 6 along its outer edge, and 15 these flanges are adapted, when the ski is in use, to be clamped against the sole of the shoe and to embrace the toe portion at opposite sides. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the ilanges t are inclined inwardly, as at 1, so as to more 20y effectively grip the shoe sole, and at their upper edges have horizontal slots 8, to receive a strap t across the toe to aid in holding the ski attached.

Each of the base flanges of the clamp plates 25 has its forward and rearward edge arcuately curved, preferably about a common center point that is substantially centrally of these edges, as designated at the points -cin Fig. 2, and these curved edges are roughened, serrated, or toothed, 30 l as indicated at Iil.

Fixed across the rear end of the base plate Z is a bar I2 which is held permanently attached by means of the screw l! that passes centrally therethrough and rivets I3 that are extended upn 35 wardly through the corners of the base plate 2 and kthrough apertures provided therefor in the end portions of the bar I2. Likewise, disposed Vacross the forward endvof the plate 2 is a locking bar l5 having a vroughened, serrated or 40 toothed inner edge It which is adapted to be interlocked with the toothed forward end edges of the clamp plates. This locking bar I5 has a central transverse slot I8 directed lengthwise of the slri runner and there is a rivet I9 pass- 45 ing downwardly through the slot into plate 2' to hold thebar against lateral movement, but permitting movement thereof toward or from the bar I2. Thus, it is apparent that with the toothed edges Iil of the clamp plates 5 and 5a interlocked 50 with the toothed edges of bars I2 and I5, they will be held rigidly in set position.

Fixed permanently acrossthe forward end of the plate 2 is an abutment bar 20. This is secured to the base andcover plates by rivets 2 I-ZI 55 through its ends, and it has a central opening for passage of the screw 3.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the inner longitudinal edge of the abutment bar 2t? is angularly inclined relative to the locking bar l5, and that there is a slightly tapered wedge bar interposed between these parts. Insertion of the wedge bar moves the locking bar l5 toward and against the forward edges of the clamp plates to hold the latter in adjusted position. When the wedge bar is removed or drawn outwardly, the locking bar may then be unseated from the toothed forward ends of the clamp bars and the latter may be unseated at their opposite ends from the bar I2 and adjusted in spacing or in angular position, as desired. It is to be understood also that, since the opposite end edges of the clamp bars are curved about a common center, this permits any angular adjustment of the clamp bars without requiring any change in spacing of the xed bar I2 and the locking bar I5.

The base flanges of the clamp plates, and also the cross bars i2 and i5, the abutment bar and wedge bar are all overlaid with a cover plate which is of the same size as the base plate 2, and this cover plate is secured by the studs I3, I9 and 2i which unite it with the base plate 2, and the whole assembly is attached to the ski runner by screws 3 and i which pass through its forward and rearward ends and also by two additional wood screws 33 and. 34 at each side, which pass downwardlyk through openings in the cover plate and through large recesses in the base iianges of the clamp plates, and then through openingsin the base plate 2, and are threaded into the runner. The openings 35 are suiciently wide and long to permit the inward and outward adjustment of the clampplates, and also permit a wide range of forward and rearward, and angular adjustment relative to each other.

The cover plate is countersunk, as at 40, to receive the heads of the six attaching screws so that the heads are left iiush with the top surface of the cover plate. Also, there are countersunk roller washers t! placed about the screw shanks within the recesses 35 so that the cover plate may not be drawn too tightly against the flanges of the clamp-members.

The wedge bar 25, as shown in Figs. 3 and 2, .has a longitudinal channel 45 in its under side and there is a boss 4% pressed upwardly `from the base plate into the channel, and this prevents the wedge from being entirely withdrawn. After the wedge bar has been set in a manner to hold the clamp plates at an adjusted position, it may be held against outward movement by the tightening thereagainst of a lock screw 50. This is threaded down through the abutment bar ,2B and into the base plate and it has a head 5| adaptedY to pass through an opening in the cover plate and to be clamped against the wedge bar. Thus, it is only necessary to slightly loosen this locking screw in order that the wedge may be withdrawn for readjustment of the toe clamps. Furthermore, the screw is placed at the forward end of the clamp in a position normally uncovered by the toe of the shoe so that adjustment may be made while the shoe is in place in the clamp.

The present type of toe clamp may be used with any of the conventional types or heel binding, for instance, as Vthat designated by reference character 6% in Fig. 1. It is desired also that there be a metal plate 5i attached to the runner to underlie the heel of the shoe to support it at the same level as the toe clamp.

The particular advantage of this type of ski bin-ding resides in the fact that the opposed toe clamp plates may be adjusted toward or from each other and also may be adjusted angularly with respect to each other within a wide range, and both clamp plates may be adjusted toward one side or the other of the ski. Furthermore, after an adjustment has been Ina-de, it is only necessary tc return the wedge bar to its inward position and tighten one easily accessible screw in order to completely secure the adjustment.

The shape of the clamp anges, as indicated in Fig. 4, affords a secure grip on they sole of the shoe and also embraces the toe so that with the strap 9 applied, it is impossible for it to become loose.

Devices of this kind may be made in various sizes and of various materials. Also, details of construction might be altered and modied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired that the protection be limited to details, but that the claims be given an interpretation that is commensurate with the invention disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In ya ski, a binding comprising a pair of shoe clamp plates mounted on the ski runner4 and adjustable from and toward each other and having toothed opposite end edges, a cross bar fixed to the runner and having a corresponding toothed edge with which toothed ends of said clamp plates may be engaged in interlocking relation, a locking bar movably xed on the runf ner for adjustment from and toward the said cross bar and having a toothed edge adapted to interlock with the other ends of the clamp plates, .an abutment fixed on the ski and a wedge bar interposed between the abutment and the locking bar and adjustable to urge the latter functionally against the clamp plates.

2. In a ski, a binding comprising a pair of opposedly related clamp plates mounted on the ski runner and adjustable from and toward each other; each plate having an upturned ange along its outer edge and having serrated opposite end edges curved about an intermediate center point, a cross bar ixed on the ski and having a toothed edge adapted to be engaged by corresponding toothed end edges of said clamp plates, a locking bar movably xed on the ski transversely thereof and having a toothed edge adapted to interlock with the other ends of said clampplates, an abutment bar fixed across the ski and a tapered wedge bar interposed between the abutment and locking bar, and adjustable to secure or to release the locking bar from holding engagement with the clamp plates.

3. In a ski, a binding comprising a pair of opposedly related shoe clamp plates mounted on the ski runner and adjustable from or toward each other, a cross bar iiXed to the runner against which ends of the clamp plates may be engaged in adjustment retaining contact, a locking cross bar mounted on the runner to engage in adjustment holding contact with the opposite ends of the clamp plates, an abutment iixed to the runner and a wedge bar interposed between the abutment and the locking bar to clamp the latter against the clamp plates, and a locking screw fastened on the ski ruimer and adapted to be tightened against the wedge bar to retain it in adjusted position.

4. In a ski a binding comprising a plate iixed on the ski runner, a pair of opposedly facing clamp plates mounted thereon and adjustable from and toward each other, each having arcuately curved opposite end edges formed with teeth, a toothed cross bar fixed to one end of the base plate, a toothed locking bar movably fixed to the plate near its other end, an abutment bar fixed to the plate at its end, and a wedge interposed between the abutment bar and locking bar and adjustable to move the locking bar against the clamp plates to interlock their teeth, a set screw for holding the wedge in adjustment, and a cover plate for the clamp plates.

5. In a ski, a binding comprising a base plate fixed on the ski runner, a pair of opposedly faced clamps with base flanges disposed flatly upon the base plate; a cross bar Xed to the plate at one end, an abutment bar fixed to the plate across its other end, a cover plate applied across said end bars and overlying said clamp flanges; said flanges being toothed at opposite ends; said cross bar being toothed -along its inner edge to interlock with teeth on the adjacent ends of the clamp plates, a locking bar interposed between the base plate and cover plate and toothed along one edge to interlock with the teeth at the other end of the clamp plate flanges, and a wedge bar interposed between the abutment bar and locking bar and adjustable to hold the locking bar in functional position, and a set screw adapted to hold the wedge bar in set position.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the clamp base flanges have openings therein and attaching screws are projected down through the cover plate and through said flange openings and through the base plate and are threaded into the ski.

7. A device as in claim 5, wherein the clamp base anges have openings therein and attaching screws are projected down through the cover plate and through said flange openings and through the base plate and are threaded into the ski, and roller washers are applied about the screw Shanks in said flange openings.

SIDNEY GERBER. 

